Sheet-metal door



May 7, 1929. w. BGERVAIS 1,712,107

' SHEET vMETAL Doon l Filed Nbv. 2, 1925 4 sheets-sheet 1 im; j @49.2,

May 7 l929. w. a. GERVAIS 1,712,107

SHEET METAL DOOR Filed Nov. 2, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet I x s i l I, Milly`7, IQQQ w. B. GERVAIS i,7l'2,107

' l SHEET METAL DOOR Filed Nov. 2, 1925 4 sheets-sheet 5 y 7, 1929. w.B. GERVAIS 1,712,107

' METAL DOOR /Fjle'd Nov. 2, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 @4Q/f l Patented May7, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT fo-FFICE@ WAINWRIGIIT Is. GERVAIS, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS, AssIGNOn- To VARIETY` FIRE` noon COMPANY, on CHICAGO,ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION or ILLINOIS.

SHEET-METAL DOOR.

Application filedk November This invention relates to sheet metal doorsand its objects are the provision of a generally improved and simpliliedsheet metaldoor construction` that may be economically produced. Y

, The construction is characterized by facility of erection. It may beeasily and quickly assembled Without the usey of rivets, bolts, or thelike. rlhe stile and general 'frame construction are standardized andthe construction of the rails, panels and other parts are alsostandardized. and interchangeable, so that the doors nay be convenientlyerected with dii'lerent panel and rail.arrangements More particularly,the invention provides an improved stile strueture,; an' vimproved paneland rail structure and an improved mode of attachin` the panels andrails to the 'trame or stiles.

Further features are the manner of iorm ing and attaching: the panelmolding and the manner Ot providingthe door with hangers, guide meansand iiller means, Where'desired. rlhe hanger means may be adjustable toeX- pedite proper hanging' of the door in spite of settling and suchstructural variations as may occur. n

My improved sheet metal construction has a wide range of utility. lcontemplate its employment for the onstruction op? elevator doors andthe like. A. door construction ein'- lrmlying my invention has all theadvantages oli lightness and strength and, in addition, is tire andsubstantially sound prooi.

The invention is illustrated in the aecomsanyingr drawings, in which :e

Fig. 1 is a trout elevational viexv Oic a door enil'iodying` theinvention; j

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1; y

Figure 2^ is a fragmentary top plan view showing the adjustable hangerprovision;

Fig'. 3 is a horizontal section taken through one oli the rails on theline 3?) oliFig. 1;

Fie'. 4 is a horizontal section through one ot the pan els on the vline4 4 of Fi r1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevation of one corner ot the door showing themanner of attaching the panel. molding g` y j Fig. 6 is a detailisometric vien7 ot` one rof the molding attaching clips a, 1925. serialNoyeais.

Fig. f7 isv a.- tragmentary detail isometric View of one of the upperrail members.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail isometric view of the other upper railmember;

F ig. 9 is a fragmentary detail isometric view of one of bers; j

F ig. 10. is a similarview of the other intermediate rail member;

Fig'. 11 is a frontelevational view of a modilication; 1 1 y Figs.` 12and 13 are fragmentary `vertical sections showing alternative forms ofpanels; and y f j 2 Fig. 14 is a detail'section showingone manner ofyattaching an operating member to the door.",.y y Y.

Referring lirst to Figs. 1'to 10, the door comprises stiles 5,6, a. toprail (l, an intermediate rail 7, a `bottomrail 8 and panels=9 and 10..lj f The stiles may be kformed of sheet metal ,i

suitably shaped into generally' rectangular hollow yconhguration intransverse section as the intermediate rail mem- .y

shoWninFig's. 8 and 4. Along one side of the i door eachstile has alongrits inner edge a tongue 12'turned back` and lyingfiin the direction ofthe thickness ot the door. Along the vopposite side oil thedoor eachstile' has a tongue 14turueil back and lying in the direction oil thewidth ol.k the door; The inner corners ol each stile 5 between vthevtongues 12 and'14, are open at 15, and closing and The upper rail 6eomprisesa pair/of rail members land 26. The rail member 26 haslaterally extending tabs 27 Oi'lset at Q8 and turned back to formtongues29 which en,- gage and interlock with the tongues 14 on the stiles 5. Inerecting the door, the upper rail is adapted toY beinstalled.by'interlock- Y `engagement therewith.

ing the tongues 29 with the tongues 14 and sliding it down until itsupper edge comes substantially flush with the upper edges of the stiles5, as shown in Fig. 1. The main surface of the rail member 26 may bedisposed substantially flush with the adjacent sides of' the stiles 5.

The upper rail member may be oflfset or turned out at 32 to dispose therail wall 33 substantially flush with the opposite sides of the stiles5. rlhe inner odge of the offset or inturned portion 32 has a marginalflange 35 which is adapted to engage and interlock with a turned backtongue or flange 36 along the adjacent edge of the rail member 26, andthe wall member has lateral flanges or tabs 34 turned in to fit or besprung between the inner edges of the stiles rllhe upper ends of thetongues 12 and 14 and strips 16, terminate short of the top of the door,and extending between the upper rail members 25 and 26 and between theopposite sides of the stiles 5 across the width of the door from oneside to the other is a channel member 38. The channel member 38 opensupwardly and the upper edges of' its vertical legs may terminate flushwith the upper edges of the rail members 25 and 26 and stiles 5.Theflanges of the channel member 3S may be spot welded or otherwisesuitably secured at 40 to the adjacent rail and stile portions of thedoor.

The central or intermediate rail 7 comprises a pair of rail members 42and 43. The rail member 43 is similar to the rail member 26, havinglaterally extending tabs 44 offset at 45 and turned back to form tongues46 for engagement and interlocking with the tongues 14 of the stilemembers 5. The main surface of the rail member 43 may be disposedsubstantially flush with the adjacent sides of the stile members 5 andthe rail member 42 may be turned out to dispose its main wallsubstantially flush with the opposite sides of the stile members.

The rail member 42 turned in at top and bottom at 48 and 50,respectively, and these turned-in portions 48 and 50 terminate inmarginal flanges 52, which marginal flanges 52 are adapted to engage andinterlock with turned-back tongues or flanges 53 along the oppositeedges of the rail member 43. `In erecting the door, the central rail maybe assembled by slipping the rail member 42 transversely into properinterlocking engagement with the rail member 43 before slipping the railmember 43 into assembled position between the Stiles 5 and intointerlocking The interlocking flanges 52 and tongues 53 bind theintermediate rail members together and against sidewise displacementrelative to each other and the engagement with and between the stilemembers binds them firmly therebetween and against endwise displacement.

Where a sheet metal, such as a steel panel,

is employed, it may comprise a sheet of proper ga ige provided along itsupper and lower edges with turned back flanges or tongues 56 and 57,respectively. ln erecting the door where a panel such as this isemployed, the panel may be slipped transversely into interlockingengagement with the rail members before the portions of said railmembers, with which the panel interlocks, are slip] ed between the stilemembers of the door, so that when the rail members are interlocked withthe stile members and slipped into proper position therebetween, therails, stile members and panels or" the door will be firmly secured intoa unitary sheet metal door structure.

rlhe edges of the panel may be finished by a molding 62. composed ofvertical and hori- YZontal metal molding strips fitting within the frameprovided by the stile and rail members. The molding strips have inturnedmarginal flanges 63 terminating in beads 64. For the purpose of securingthe molding in place, a plurality of suitable clip members 65 areprovided. These clip members have flanges 66, which are adapted to beinter-engaged or iuterlocked with the tongues 14, 36 and and held inplace with the other flanges or tongues interlocking with said flangesor tongues 4, 36 and 53.` utwardly of the flanges 667 the clips 65 areoffset at 63 over the outer surface of the panel. The odset portions 66terminate in tongues extending outwardly and turned back at 70, and thebeads 64 of the flanges 63 of the moldingr strips are adapter tobesprung` beneath or behind these turnedback tongues 70 to hold themolding strips securely in place.

The attachment clips 65 for the molding strips, may comprise relativelyshort lengths placed as desired about the stile and rail members to holdthe molding in place, as shown in 5. The abutting corners of the moldingstrips are preferal'ily beveled or mitered. and these corners m ay, uponcompletion of the door. be welded together.

The lower rail member 8 is shown as formed and interconnected similar tothe upper rail member 6. lt comprises a pair of rail members 7 6 and 78,the rail member 78 having lateral tongues interlocking with the tongues14 similar to the tongues 29 of the upper rail member and a turned backflange or tongue 30 along its upper edge for interlocking with a flange32 along the upper edge of the rail member 76 ano with the tongue 83along the lower edge of the panel 10. EX- tending the width of the doorand secured between the lower edges of the rail members 7 6 and 78 andthe opposite sides of the lower ends ofthe stile members 5, is a channelmember 85. The channel member opens downwardly and its flanges may bespot welded or otherwise suitably secured at 36 to the adj acent railand side or stile portions of the door.

In the door shown in Figs. 1 to 10, the bottom panel 10 may be similarlysecured in place and similarly finished with a molding, that is, likethe upper panel 9, so that a further detailed description ol the same isbclievedunnecessary. Upon the completion ot the door, the opposite endsot' the upper intermediate and lower rails 6, 7 and 8, may be welded tothe adjacent portions of the stile members 5, and the entire structurethereby joined into a solid, unitary door having great strength.

rllhe lower channel member may be provided with suitable guide pins 88,formed ot cast iron, or otherwise, as desired, and suitably secured inthe channel 85.

For hanging the door, the upper channel member 38 is provided withsuitable hanger blocks 'secured therein by screws92, which the blocks 90have internally threaded open-` ings 92 for hanging the door. rlhehollow stil-e members 5 may be provided internally .with 'suitablefillers 911. rFliese fillers 94 may be of cork or other suitablematerial.

ln Fig. 12 the door is shownL as provided with a glass or suitabletransparent/panel 100, which may be substituted for the upper panel ofthe door or" Figs. 1 to 10, or be otherwise placed therein. In thiscase, the pane is cut or dimensioned to lit between the stile members 5and 'the rail members ot the door, with their inner surtaces seatinguponthe inwardly exteiiding flanges 86 or' the `rail iii-embers and theinwardly extending a panel. may be substituted "or either or both et thepanels of the door alreadydescribed, or it maybe otherwise interposed inthe door, as desired. It may be mounted and secured in place, as is thepanel or pane 100 ot Fig. `12, or otherwise as desired.

ln the door shown in Fig. 11, the central or intermediate rail of theprevious embodiment is omitted and a single panel 106, sur rounded bystile members 107 and upper and lowerrail members 108 and 109, isprovided. The panel 106 inay'beof metal, glass or othertransparentmaterial or insulating board, as

betere, and itis shown as finished about its edge or margin with amolding 112. f n

ln `Fig. 141 I have shown one manneror" attaching an operator roroperating member tothe stile member116 of the door. The oppositesidesvll and 118 ot the stile member 116 are provided with aligned orregistering openings. A metal sleeve120 lits be-` tween the side 118 andthe operating member 115,. extending through ythe opening in thewall`117 and properly spacing the wall 118 tromthe operating member 115.A screw 121 extends through the sleeve 120 and has threaded rengagementwith the operating fmember 115the outer end o1 the screw hav-v ing ahead which cooperates with-tlie wall 118 and the outer end of the sleeve120 to bind the sides of the stile 116 togetherand the operating member115 firmly thereto. 41I do not intend to be limited to the precisedetails and panel arrangementsshown or described.

I claim `1.ln a device of the class described, Vthe combination oi astile v,member having longitudinal tongue means therealo-ng, a railcomprising a first rail member having tongue means adapted to be slippedlongitudinallyy of the stile member into interlocking engagementwithjthe tongue means along said stile member, second tongue means alongsaid rail meml er, and a second rail member having cooperating tonguemeans adapted tobe slipped transversely of the stile member intointerlocking engagement with said secondY rail tongue means.

2. 'The herein describedstile membertor use in door constructioncomprising a hollow sheet metal stile member khaving free edges andprovided 'along said edges with turnedbach tongues each outside thehollow ot the stile meunier, said tongues lying at substantiallyrightangles to each other with one tongue aty right angles to one `sideof the stile member and the other tongue parallel the opposite side otthe stile member, and a coinmon angular vsheet metal .member extendingalong and interlocledalong its opposite edges with said tongues. f

3. In a device et the class described, the combination of a hollow sheetmetalstile -member having tree edges and provided along said edgeswithfturned back tongues,

said tongues lying at substantially right angles to eachother withone'tongue at right angles to one side of the stile member and the othertongue parallel the opposite side of the stile member, an angularsheetmetal member extendingwalong and interloelied along its opposite edgeswith said tongues, and a rail comprising a two piece rail member havingone piece interlocked with one of said tongues rll() ieuy and the otherpiece interloclted directly with said lirst piece. f

fl. ln a device ot the class described, the combination ot a framecomprising a hollow sheet metal stile member having tree edge.I andprovided along said edges with turnedback tongues, said tongues lying atsubstantially right angles to each other with one tongue at rigl'itangles to one side ot the stile member and the other tongue parallel andadjacent the opposite ot the stile member, an angular sheet metal memberextending along and interlocked alo-ng its opposite ed ge n'ith'saidtongues, a rail comprising a rail member interlocled with one of saidtongues, and a second rail member interlociied with said iirst railmember, and a panel mounted in said trame and interloclred with saidrail.

5. ln a device oi the class described, the combination ot a tramecomprising aihollow sheet metal stile member having tree edges andprovided along said edges with turnedbaclr tongues, said tongues lyingat substantially right angles to each other with one tongue at rightangles to one side of the stile n'iember and the other tongue paralleland adjacent the opposite side oi the stile member, an angular sheetmetal member extending along and inter-locked along its opposite edgeswith said tongues, a rail comprising a rail member interloclied with oneot said tongues, a second rail member interloclied with said iii-st railmember, a panel mounted in said tra me and interlocled with said rail,molding means marginally surrounding said panel, and means interlocliedwith the trame and with said molding means for securing said moldingmeans in place. f

(l. ln combination, a door having a channel'along its upper edge, saidchannel having an elongated slot, a hanger mounted in said channel, andscrew means passing through said slot for adjustably securing saidhanger in said channel, the elongation ot the slot being across thewidth of the door and said hanger being adjusted by loosening said screwmeans and adajiited to be clamped in any desired adjusted position bytightening said screw means.

7. In combination, a door having opposite stile members, a rail memberextending be-V tween said stile members, a channel member secured insaid rail member and a hanger mounted in said channel member', and meanstor adjusting the hanger across the width ol" the door to accommodatesame to different j'iosit-ions ot thev door hanging means across thedoo-r opening.

S. in a door of the class described, the combination el a hollow sheetmetal stile closed along its outer edge and open along its inner edge,the marginal edge ot said stile at one side being turned substantiallynormal the adj cent side ot the stile and having aflange turned backsubstantially parallel with said marginal yedge, the marginal edge attheopposi te side of the stile lying in the plane ot the oppositeI side ofthe stile and extending inwardly of said irst edge, said last marginalet ge having a lange turned back substantially parallel 'to the same andthe adjacent side of the stile, a vertical stay member closingithe openedge oi the stile and having a turned back tongue along one sidesubstantially normal the adjacent side ot the stile and interlockingwith said iirst flange and an inward extending tongue along theoppolsite side and substantially normal to said iirst tongue andparallel to the opposite side of 'the stile for interlocking ywith thetlf-.nge the opposite side of said stile member.

9. ln a door ot the described, the coinbination of a hollow sheet metalstile closed along its outer edge and open along its inner edge, themarginal edge of said stile at one side being turned substantiallynormal the adjacent side oft the stile and having a flange turned backsubstantially parallel with said marginal edge, the marginal edge at theopposite side of the stile. lying in the plane of the opposi side'ot thestile and extending ii'iwardly ot said irst edge, said last marginaledge having a iiange turned back substantially parallel to the saine andthe adj acent side of the stile, a vertical stay member closing the openedge of the stile and having a turned back tongue along one sidesubstantially normal to the adjacent side of the stile and interlociingwith said first flange, an inward.extending tongue along the oppositeside and substantially normal said first tongueand parallel the oppositeside ot the stile for interlocking with the flange at the opposite sideot the said stile member, rails comprising two pieces in terloclredalong longitudinal edges with each other and at opposite ends with theturned bac-lr tongues ot the stile members which are parallel theadjacent sides o' said stile members and a panel laid upon said tonguesand interlocking along its longitudinal edges with the longitudinaltongues ot the rail members.

l0. ln a device ot the classdescribial, the combination ot a pair ofhollow sheet metal stile members each having a marginal tongue outsidethe hollow ot' the stile members, said tongues lying in substantially acommon plane and adjacent and parallel one side of each stile member anda separate twopiece sheet metal rail member extending between said stilemembers with one rail piece provided at its opposite ends with tonguesinterlocled directly with the tongues on the stile members outside thehollow of said stile members and the other rail piece inter-locked alongone edge with said lirst rail piece, the tongues on the ends of saidfirst rail member lying in substantially a common planeand parallel. theside of the rail member.

11. rl`he herein described stile member for use in door construction,comprising e hollow sheet metal stile member having free edges andprovided along Said edges With turnedbaeked marginal tongues outside thehollow of the stile member and et right angles to each other with onetongue at right :ingles to one side. of the stile member and the othering inwardly beyond said first tongue.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto Subscribe my name this 28th day ofOctober, 1925.

WAINWRIGHT 13.GERVAIS.

